Lily Lin
Director of International Advisement

A native of Taiwan, Lily Lin (whose Chinese name, Yu-fen, means "scent of the forest") moved to San Francisco in 1991. She earned her B.S. from New York University and a master's degree in education from Harvard University, and admits that she has "a mix of East and West in me."

Lily (Yu-fen) Lin with her family. Clockwise from top left: Lily, her younger brother Henry, her mom, and her grandfather.

How long have you worked at Juilliard, and what do you remember about your first day?

I began my career here in July 1999. I am big on decent but inexpensive food—and finding a reasonably priced place to get lunch in this neighborhood was a "mission impossible."



What job at Juilliard would you like to try out for a day and why?

Any job. Everything interests me.



What is the strangest or most memorable job you've ever had, and what made it so?

This might sound corny, but working in the International Advisement Office is truly an amazing experience. I won't ever forget the moment I met and spoke with the first Azerbaijani person in my life, and realized that we were all, indeed, the same as each other: human beings.



If out of the blue your boss said to take the day off, what would you do with your free time?

Keep myself away from the Lincoln Center neighborhood as much as possible (no offense, please!). Most likely I would get a massage downtown and have Japanese cold soba for lunch at a nearby restaurant.



Do you have a background in music, dance, or drama? Are you actively pursuing it?

I began my piano "career" at age 8, and have kept it as a hobby. I realized very early that I was not going to be a professional musician—but as a hobby, it balances pretty well with my work at Juilliard.



What kind of performances do you prefer to attend and why?

I enjoy any kind of performance that is composed with energy, character, and passion.



What other pursuits are you passionate about?

Everything. To live a rich life in general.



What was the best vacation you've had and what made that trip so special?

My study abroad in Tver, Russia (summer 1998) was a memorable experience. In a town where Asian foreign visitors were a rarity, managing one's day-to-day needs was an extraordinary experience. Not only was I perceived as a complete "alien," but some people treated me like a 5-year-old (I guess my spoken Russian skills back then gave people the misleading impression that my mental development was on a par with my Russian). I wasn't humiliated, but sometimes I did feel quite bewildered. It was quite a complex feeling, but I learned how to handle the unfamiliar with reflective understanding.



What is your biggest aspiration in life?

To understand myself in greater depth, and to become more aware of my weaknesses.



What might people be surprised to know about you?

That I speak conversational Russian and that I have no TV at home.



Is there anything you'd like to add?

I admire those who have already exposed themselves in the Juilliard Portraits series. It was difficult writing about myself.